Hard Wired Trilogy DeAnna Pearce (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud txt) 📖

She finally settled on messaging Reed: Marco’s sick. I’ll be with him for a while.

A heaviness settled into her bones as Nurse Carey changed out his feeding bag. Ari wondered if the nurse had slept at all. Her short brown hair was perfectly curled, and her lips colored pink. Her hands were quick and experienced as she hooked up the new feeding tube before she turned to Ari. “Now that he is fed, how about getting something for you?”

“I want to be hooked up with my brother.”

If Nurse Carey was surprised she didn’t show it. “That may be a possibility, but it won’t happen until after breakfast. You already missed dinner. What kind of medical personnel would I be if I let you starve?”

“Can I go in if I eat?”

Before Nurse Carey could answer, Advisor Williams walked in the door.

“Go in where?”

“I want to go in the VR with my brother.”

“Why would the school do that? It’s a waste of precious time and resources.”

“To wake him up, of course.” Ari’s hands clenched at her side. She couldn’t believe this man’s indifference. She was grateful Nurse Carey interrupted before she really told him how she felt.

“It would save on costs in the long run, Advisor. I’m willing to set it up in here.”

“Has his mother signed the paperwork?”

“I sent it over. She will sign it before she leaves for work in a few hours.”

Irritation was written all over his face as he knew Nurse Carey had the upper hand. “Fine, but only after we receive the paperwork. And after Ari’s classes.”

“What? I’m not going to class.”

“We pay for them, so yes you are. Only medically excused absences will not be marked as demerits in your record. Or are you more like your brother than we thought? He didn’t care much for attendance either.”

Nurse Carey put a hand on Ari’s shoulder, her touch steady and warm. “She will be fed first, and then she’ll go to her class. It will take me a bit to get a VR unit in here, anyway.”

Advisor Williams gave a curt nod then left the room.

Ari wasn’t sure if she wanted to hit him or scream. Instead she sunk down on the foot of Marco’s bed in exhaustion.

“Ignore that old crow, dear, and let me get you some coffee.”

“I wish I could,” Ari said. Williams held the key to her future in more ways than one. He would find her placement after her schooling was done. And so far, it wasn’t looking good. He also had the power to kick her out and make her life a mountain of student debt with no way of getting out of it. Schooling was free as long as you finished with a passing grade and worked at a government assigned position afterwards.

She could only focus on Marco. He had to be okay. She needed him. And somehow, she would find a way to let him know.

The nurse pushed a warm cup of coffee into her hands. “Drink up. You have a long day ahead of you.”

Ari nodded, numbly. She savored the bitter taste of the coffee warming her. “Do you think he will wake up?”

“Probably. He’s young with a lot to live for. Though you may have to remind him of that.”

“That’s what I worry about.” Ari stared into Marco’s innocent face with his hair sticking up all over. She hoped she could offer enough of the real world to lure him out of his virtual one. As much as Ari detested it, maybe living in a virtual was easier, a carefree escape she almost wished she could enjoy.

“Take the coffee with you so you can make it to breakfast. You have to have something besides caffeine.”

Ari didn’t want to eat, but she needed out of there, especially if she had to go to class. She picked up her bag with her tablet that had been periodically beeping inside since she had silenced the HUB on her wrist hours ago. Not ready to talk to anyone, she silenced the noise, swung the bag over her shoulder, and headed to the door.

As the door swooshed open, Nurse Carey said, “Answer your interface, Ariana. Your friends are worried about you.”

Ari just kept walking.

She grabbed a breakfast shake and headed to her dorm room in hopes of a shower before her first class at eight.

“Are you going to ignore me all day?” Reed’s biting words came from behind. She wasn’t exactly sure why she’d ignored his other messages. Embarrassment, maybe. Denial and the hope her brother would wake up this morning was more likely.

“So, you know?” Ari turned around, and once she glimpsed his hurt face, guilt punched her in the gut. “I’m sorry.”

“Nurse Carey told me.” His eyes, dark and heavy, spoke of his own restless night. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I ...” She dropped her gaze. She was tired, and not ready to answer. Anger, guilt, and hurt overflowed, and she couldn’t keep it in any longer. “What was I supposed to say? My loser brother got hooked like my deadbeat dad. Who knows, maybe I’ll be next?” Ari yelled, not caring who heard.

Reed paused for a moment, shock perhaps. His face softened, and he stepped forward closing the distance between them. His presence warmed away her frustration—a relief that she didn’t deserve.

“Do you honestly believe I would think that? Because my dad took off and yours is in a VR coma, does that make any difference? I have lived for the past two years with Marco. He’s like a brother to me.”

Tears pooled in her eyes. She dabbed at her eyes, knowing he was right. He understood in a way no one else would. She kicked herself for doubting him, again. She lifted her chin. “So, what does that make us?”

A grin slowly crept on Reed’s face. “A very twisted family?” He encompassed her with his arms, and she melted into them.

She didn’t realize how tired and alone she had felt until he held her.

“Don’t worry, though, I